Residents, Developers Come To Agreement Taking Controversial Gas Station Out Of Towson Project

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Friday, March 23, 2018
Tyler Waldman, WBAL NewsRadio 1090

Credit: Scott Wykoff

The most divisive part of a planned Towson development is no longer in the cards, after an agreement between developers and residents.

The Towson Station development will no longer include a planned Royal Farms gas station and convenience store, which once anchored the plan, after a deal reached between the Greater Towson Council of Community Associations and Caves Valley Partners. The development is to be built on land formerly home to the Towson fire station at York Road and Bosley Avenue.

“I am pleased the community and CVP were able to find common ground and a workable solution for this project that will serve as an important development in Towson,” County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, a proponent for the project, said in a statement. “I appreciate the efforts of Councilman [Tom] Quirk who facilitated these discussions and I look forward to the new mutually agreed-upon version of this project moving forward.”

The new plan includes the two retail buildings originally proposed, along with a new pad site user where Royal Farms would have been. Under the agreement, the tenant that goes there can't be a gas station, convenience store or 24-hour business, unless that business is an urgent care facility. Other design concessions were also made by developers.

The tenants that remain in the plans for Towson Station include Men's Wearhouse, Mod Pizza and Mission BBQ, according to the property's broker, H&R Retail.

“GTCCA would like to thank all parties involved in the hard work that was required to come to an agreement on this development,” GTCCA President Bryan Fischer said. “We, the residential communities of Towson, hope that this is the beginning of a positive and productive relationship with Caves Valley Partners. We thank CVP for their engagement and willingness to compromise.”

Residents had taken issue with the noise, lights and traffic attendant with a 24-hour gas station.

“Our team committed to working with the community and strong county leadership to develop a compromise solution that met the needs of all parties and will promote a stronger, more vibrant Towson,” CVP partner Arthur Adler said “CVP continues to pursue a strong, family-friendly tenant mix for Towson Station that will enhance the dining and retail offerings and overall appearance of York Road.”

CVP has a contract to buy the 5.8-acre, county-owned property. The sale would have included the land being used as the rear parking lot for the neighboring Towson Diner, but developers agreed to remove that parcel from the contract so the diner could buy that property instead. Developers also agreed to settle on the property before the end of June, and waive some applicable tax credits.

“I applaud the community representatives and CVP for coming together in the spirit of compromise to develop a modified plan for this project,” said Quirk, who doesn't represent Towson, but is the immediate past chairman of the County Council and was credited with bringing the sides together.

Ultimately, Quirk said, the County Council must approve the new purchase price.